Revised bridge plan gratifies Volant.Village

By Jeanne Starmack

Merchants were unhappy with the idea that the bridge might close during their busy season.

VOLANT, Pa. — A decision to keep one lane open during work on the Pa. Route 208 bridge is pleasing village merchants and the Wilmington Area School District.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation originally wanted to close the bridge over the Neshannock Creek for repairs next summer.

That prompted an outcry from merchants in the tourist town, who said the bridge’s being closed in their busiest months would drastically hurt their businesses.

PennDOT said it had been planning to close the bridge in the summer to avoid interfering with Wilmington Area School District buses during the school year.

But PennDOT has now decided to allow westbound traffic to cross the bridge and will start the project in the winter, said James Struzzi, PennDOT spokesman.

Struzzi said he is uncertain when the project will start. “They wanted February.”

He said the route of an eastbound detour hasn’t been finalized.

“This is much better,” said Cheryl Geidner, who owns the 1906 Mercantile Co. on Main Street.

Her store is one of about 50 shops and restaurants in the town, which caters to people who are visiting the nearby Amish countryside.

“January, February and March are our slowest three months,” she said. “It’s very helpful to have it done when the season is not that busy.”

Melda Irwin, transportation coordinator for the school district, said PennDOT is keeping the westbound lane open so that school bus riders won’t have any time added to their morning rides.

Students who will be affected by the bridge work have about a 50- to 55-minute ride already in the morning, she said.

“Some live on farms and have farm work to do to begin with,” she said.

She said the afternoon detour could add some time, but she couldn’t say for sure because the detour isn’t final yet.

She said the bridge project will cause some inconvenience.

“But they have to do the bridge, and we have to work with them,” she said.

PennDOT is replacing the bridge deck at an estimated $1 million to $3 million. The project is expected to take three to four months to complete.